Daven Tamayo

PBA: Magnolia enters win column at Meralco’s expense

Article (news)

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784893540188PBA Image14 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Magnolia import KJ Buffen in action. <em>PBA Images</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Magnolia finally entered the win column of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.</p><p>This, as the Hotshots deflated Meralco, 112-98, to end a two-game slump on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.</p><p>“We really need this win, napakaimportante ng panalo na ‘to para sa amin,” said Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio during the postgame press conference.</p><p>It was all Magnolia in the game, with Meralco not even tasting the lead, but faced some resistance when the latter came within two, 88-86, after an Aaron Black basket nine minutes in the final frame.</p><p>But Zavier Lucero and Rome dela Rosa were there to restore order as the Magnolia side kept their distance, 92-86. Their lead even ballooned to 13, 105-92, 3:49 on the fourth-quarter clock as the Hotshots finally found their way to a breakthrough win.</p><p>Import KJ Buffen top-scored with 26 points to go with 12 rebounds and five assists. </p><p>Four Magnolia locals heeded the call this time, as Lucero tallied 20 points, capped by a garbage time trey, and added 11 rebounds. Ian Sangalang was named Best Player of the Game after having 16 points, while Mark Barroca and Jerom Lastimosa made their presence felt with 14 and 13 markers, respectively.</p><p>On the other hand, Antonio Hester, facing his former squad for the first time, delivered a game-high 28 points but for the losing cause.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Scores:</strong></div><p><strong>MAGNOLIA 112 – </strong>Buffen 26, Lucero 20, Sangalang 16, Barroca 14, Lastimosa 13, Dela Rosa 9, Lee 6, Jopia 4, Alfaro 4, Andrada 0, Verano 0, Koon 0</p><p><strong>MERALCO 98 – </strong>Hester 28, Cansino 12, Quinto 11, Black 10, Newsome 9, Banchero 7, Hodge 6, Maliksi 6, Brickman 5, Mocon 2, Bates 2</p><p><strong>QUARTERS: </strong> 31-20, 60-55, 84-77, 112-98</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-XE1dccPTjM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Magnolia finally entered the win column of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.</p>